Page 67 of The Broken Note

Suddenly, a soft yellow light blasts on.

I swerve around and find Dutch leaning against one of the lockers. My heartbeat increases. If I were playing a piano piece, I would have to playpresto.Faster and faster.

He’s standing in the glare like he’s about to go on stage and perform in front of screaming fans. Golden light falls against his square jaw. Sharp enough to kill. The villain turned hero. The boy girls know, deep down, they should stay away from but find themselves helplessly drawn to.

His white-button down and tan trousers are staple elements of the Redwood Prep uniform, but they look elevated on him. Like he just tore them off a model in Paris and is leisurely wearing it now.

Dutch moves toward me. Each step making me quiver deep in my bones. A panther on the move. The picture of destruction with his blonde hair, amber eyes and inked body.

“What are you doing here?” I mutter.

“I’m here to oversee your work service.” He bends down so his face is right on top of mine. “I’m in charge of you, remember?”

His amused tone makes me bristle. Of course he’s here to torture me. Why did I feel a glimmer of excitement at the sight of him? Why did I think this was anything other than a ploy to make me miserable?

Stupid piece of crap. I hope you fall off the stage and actually break your leg!

“Start down there, Brahms.” Dutch juts his chin toward a classroom at the end of the hallway.

“I’ll start where I want to,” I snap.

Fuming, I stomp away. But when I advance on the door to my right, Dutch grabs my hand and drags me to him. In a second, he’s drawing my waist to his body and lowering his face to mine.

Our noses brush.

His voice whispers over me like a caress. “Why does everything have to be a fight with you, Cadey?”

“I thought you liked my fight?” I snarl.

“I do,” he purrs, looking at me with eyes that say he would pin me against a locker and show me how much. “I really do.”

Dutch’s mouth drops closer, a burning flame that sears through me, making me tremble with desperate, pulsing need.

It’s agony, how much I want him.

Agony how much I wish I didn’t.

It makes me wonder whether I deserve all the bad things that have happened to me. If I’m drawn to someone as ruthless, evil and dark as Dutch, doesn’t that mean I’m a monster too?

He tortured me for weeks and yet I can’t keep my hands off him.

Icravehim.

I’m deranged.

A masochist. Someone who enjoys their own pain. Who consumes their own poison.

Dutch stops an inch away from my mouth. Our heavy breaths mingle, twining between our still open lips. I part my mouth further. Inhale. Inhale. Inhale. It’s like he’s breathing more of his darkness into me. And I’m taking it all in. Leaving no crumbs.

“Be a good girl, Cadey. There are cameras.” His eyes inch over my blouse. “Unless you don’t mind the security guards watching…”

My senses return just in time.

I shove him away and he releases me.

Face ablaze, I storm to the classroom he indicated and shove it open, only to stop short when I see what’s inside.

My jaw drops.